Adjustable trunk carrier



Jilly 18, 1950 ADJUSTABLE TRUNK CARRIER Filed April 7. 1947 Riyal.

CLARENCE HALL.

Patented July 18. 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Clarence Hall, OmaIia, Nebr. Application April '1, 1947, Serial No. 739,807

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in trunk carriers and has for its object the provision of a convenient device for carrying trunks up and down inclined ramps and stairways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trunk carrying device provided with suitable outwardly projecting carrying handles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trunk carrier having a frame for supporting a trunk thereon, the frame being so constructed as to be readily extensible and retractible for receiving trunks of various sizes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable trunk carrying frame the parts of which may be rapidly locked together for use and unlocked for adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trunk-carrier as described having adjustable straps secured thereto for maintaining a trunk thereon at timeswhen the latter is being carried at an inclination.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a trunk carrier as described having telescop ically disposed frame members, at least onejof the frame members having a slot therein extendin substantially completely the whole length thereof for providing the device with a maximum length. when extended and at times whenthe slotted frame member is secured to its complemental telescopic frame member.

Other and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the trunk carrier of the invention shown in a position of use upon a trunk, the latter being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the trunk carrier and trunk of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the trunk carrier of Figure 1, the view being taken by turning the device through an angle of ninety degrees from the position thereof shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a detailedside elevation of the look-- ing device of the invention which includes two of the telescopically cooperative frame members of the new carrier.

The trunk carrier of this invention is for the purpose of carrying a trunk of relatively great size and bulk, such a trunk being indicated at I!) in Figure 1.

The new device includes a pair of oppositely disposed, rigid, parallel, elongated transverse frame members l2. The transverse fram members l2 are preferably formed of angle iron, theoutwardly disposed sides of the angle irons being disposed upwardly extending in vertical planes from the normally horizontally disposed remaining portion of the angle iron l2.'

The angle irons [2 are normally horizontally positioned and are provided with outWardly=extending handles 14 firmly attached thereto. The

handles I' l are preferably of U-shape in top plan view, the ends of the arms l6 of each of the handles I4 being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the frame members I2.

A plurality of longitudinal frame members 20 are provided. The latter are spaced apart, preferabl equidistantly, and are each disposed at a right" angle with respect to the parallel transverse frame members l2. Each of the longitudialframe members 20 is composed of two sections" frame members 22 is of a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter of the sections 24 for slidably receiving the latter. As thus described, the longitudinal frame members 20 and the horizontal frame members I2 form a trunk carrying frame.

As best shown in Figure 4, one of the sections 22 of one of the frame members 20 is provided with a slot 30 longitudinally disposed in a side thereof, the slot 30 extending to a point 32 spaced from the inward or open end of the corresponding sections 22. A portion 34 of the said one section 22 is disposed between the adjacent end of the slot 30 and the open end of the pipe section 22. The section 34 is for the purpose of preventing a bolt or detent 36 from sliding outwardly of the slot 30.

The bolt 3'6 is provided with a head disposed on the outward side of the pipe 22 and of the slot 30, a shank disposed through the slot 30, and the threaded end portion threadedly and rigidly secured in the side wall of the frame section 24 corresponding with the slotted frame section 22 and adjacent the inward end of said frame memthe two sections of the frame, one of such frame sections including the members 22 and that transverse frame member 52 to which they are attached, the other section including the members 24 and that frame member l2 to which the latter are attached.

A pair of straps 40 are provided. The latter are adapted to be disposed in parallelism extending across the top of the trunk ID to be carried. The opposite ends of each strap 40 are secured by means of suitable rivets 42 to the oppositely disposed transverse frame members 12.

The straps 40 are each composed of two adjustably connected sections. One of the sections is provided with a series of spaced apart apertures 49 therein for the reception of the tongue 50 of a strap buckle 52. The other strap section 40 is looped about the belt buckle 52 as shown at 54; and a suitable sliding keeper 56 is provided for extending about the free end of the apertured strap section and the other strap section.

In place of the. straps 40' any suitable, flexible, and adjustable device maybe employed. Also the straps 40 may be caused to extend entirely around the lower side of the frame member l2; or may, if desired, be placed extending transversely rather than longitudinally about the frame.

In operation, it will be seen thatthe operator may adjust the sides of the frame by spacing the transverse frame members 12 a greater or lesser distance apart asmay be desired. He may then place the trunk upon the frame at a time when the straps 40 are unbuckled and disposed out of the way. The straps-40 are then tightened securely about the trunk 10. and buckled and the handles may then be gripped for carrying the trunk. The straps 40, if tightly adjusted, will prevent the frame members .22 and 24 from sliding father apart, although, if desired, the bolt 36 may be tightened to maintain the frame sections 22 rigidly disposed in a desired position with respect to each other.

The bolt -36 and the slot 30 will cooperate to preventthe complete separation of the sections 22 and 24 even at times-when the bolt 36 is not tightened against the adjacent side of the pipe 22.

This invention has provided atrunk carrier which is readily extensible for accommodating trunks of various sizes, to which a trunk may be rapidly attached and from which a trunk may be readily removed.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an adjustable trunk carrier constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification, including variations in the shape and size of the parts, without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

A trunk carrier comprising a plurality of elongated parallel spaced apart longitudinal frame members, said frame members each having two sections, the sections of each of said frame members being telescopically disposed with respect to each other, corresponding sections of each of said frame members being secured together, one of said longitudinal frame members having a slot extending longitudinally of one Of the sections thereof; carrying handles secured to said sections and a bolt threadedly secured to the other section of said one frame member and adapted to be tightened against said slotted frame memher for securing said sections of said one of said longitudinal frame members together in any one of a plurality of positions with respect to each other.

CLARENCE HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,027,660 Larrance May 28, 1912 1,297,548 Darby Mar. 18, 1919 1,346,581 Yost July 13, 1920 1,455,944 Wallet a1 May 22, 1923 1,482,770 Terrell Feb. 5, 1924 2,204,824 Rock June 18, 1940 2,423,961 Buxton July 15, 1947 

